Tooth size changes with age in a Spanish population: Percentile tables

Abstract

The aims of this work were: firstly, to draw up tables of percentile tooth sizes similar to those of Sanin and Savara for three age groups of a Spanish population; secondly, to describe changes in tooth size between those groups over time, as well as observing any sexual dimorphism and, finally, to compare both the Spanish and Sanin and Savara 's American population samples. The sample included 359 patients and was divided into three age groups: adolescents, young adults and adults, of both genders. After dental cast digitalization, mesiodistal tooth-size was measured on each dental cast using a digital method. Dental size tables organized by percentiles for each group of age and gender were drawn up. Percentiles under 30 were considered as small, between 30 and 70 as average, and above 70 as large. As symmetry was found between contralateral teeth, the mean between the teeth of the two semi-arches was considered. The mesiodistal tooth sizes of adolescents did not present statistically significant differences between genders, in contrast to the two other age groups. Mesiodistal tooth diameters tended to diminish with age, especially in women, in the Spanish population. The values obtained for our dental tables, organized by percentiles, were slightly higher than those found by Sanin and Savara in an American population, especially for women.